Bluff Point State Park

Bluff Point State Park in Groton sits where the Poquonnock River meets Long Island Sound. Fishing is allowed 24 hours a day from the beach at the point and from Poquonnock Cove, and the park is on the eastern Sound's run of striped bass, bluefish, fluke, blackfish and fall false albacore.

When to fish

• Spring to fall: striped bass. In summer, On The Water's eastern Connecticut guide finds the best striper fishing early in the morning, on cloudy days, and above all after dark.
• Summer and fall: fluke and bluefish off the point, snapper blues in Poquonnock Cove.
• Fall: false albacore usually reach the eastern Sound and Fishers Island Sound around the second week of September and can stay into early November; blackfish (tautog) are a fall target too.

Where to fish

• The beach at Bluff Point: stripers, bluefish, fluke, blackfish, hickory shad and albies.
• Poquonnock Cove: a sheltered cove for winter flounder and snapper blues.
• By kayak: paddle the calm Poquonnock River behind Bushy Point Beach, or go around the beach toward Fishers Island Sound and Mumford Cove.

How to fish it

For albies, On The Water's guide says go early and often once they arrive, with epoxy jigs and soft-plastic albie baits. For big summer stripers after dark he fishes live eels or large soft-plastic eels. In late July and August, brown (sandbar) sharks sometimes attack hooked bass; they're protected and it's illegal to take them out of the water, and the guide tells clients never to reach into the water while landing a fish.

Getting there

Parking is free for Connecticut-registered cars; out-of-state vehicles pay a fee. Fishing is allowed around the clock, but you need the park's vehicle permit to park and fish at night; walk-in night anglers must carry tackle and a marine waters license. Bluff Point is an Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing site, with lower minimum sizes for fluke and scup. Shellfishing is allowed with a Town of Groton permit. See the Connecticut Saltwater Fishing Guide for current limits.